Environmental engineering company Peter Brotherhood Ltd has built a
steam turbine worth almost £1 million to be installed in a £7
million waste-to-energy plant being built at Crymlyn Burrows near
Neath in South Wales.

The 4.5 MW turbine will produce
electricity to power local council buildings and street lights using
fuel derived from domestic and commercial refuse.

The waste-fuelled power station is
part of a £32 million integrated waste treatment plant, which will
also include recycling and composting, that is being developed by
project company HLC (Neath Port Talbot) Ltd.

Mixed municipal wastes from local
homes and business will enter the treatment plant and be separated
into various streams for recycling, composting or processing into
fuel.

The refuse-derived fuel will comprise
mostly low-grade paper, wood and plastics - about 30 per cent by
weight of the mixed waste stream that enters the plant. Almost half of
the 4.5 MW of electricity generated will be used to power the facility
itself and the balance will be used by Neath Port Talbot County
Borough Council in council buildings, street lighting, etc.

The contract with Peter Brotherhood
has been placed by Nifes Energy, one of a number of specialist
equipment suppliers and contractors involved in building the plant.
The turbine will be commissioned early in 2002 and the plant is
expected to be operational by the summer.